Jetting device



JETTING DEVICE Filed June 11. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. WarrenM. 2/719 HGENT Oct. 24, 1967 w. M. ZINGG 3,348,616

JETTING DEVICE 7 Filed June 11. 1965 2 she ts-sheet z IYNVENTOR. WarrenM. Z ing 9 Eff/be I AGE/VT United States Patent 3,348,616 JETTING DEVICEWarren M. Zingg, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to The Dow Chemical Company,Midland, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 11, 1965, Ser. No.463,289 6 Claims. (Cl. 166-223) This invention relates to jetting toolsof the type used in oil or gas wells, and particularly to a jetting toolwhich is adapted for use in so-called open hole jetting service.

' Jetting tools for use in down-hole well treating or servicing use arewell known in the art. An example of such a device is shown and claimedin US. Patent No. 3,066,- 735 issued Dec. 4, 1962, to Warren M. Zingg.

Most of the prior art jetting tools have been made for use in casedwells or for use where the surface against which the abrasive or otherjet stream is directed is a short distance, e.g., less than 6 inches,from the body of the tool. Because the tool is usually used where thebore hole is liquid filled at the point of use, it can be appreciatedthat the distance between the jet nozzles and the surface to be workedon should be as small as practicable it really effective use of the jetsis to be achieved.

However, since the jetting tool must be lowered through well casing, itcan be appreciated that the overall diameter of the tool must be small(7" OD. casing is commonly used).

- Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide animproved jetting tool for use in well treating service.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved jetting toolwhich is adapted to be lowered into a well bore through well casing butis adapted for use against a surface which is substantially furtherdistance from the tool than is the wall of the casing.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved jettingtool which is adapted to be used to jet surfaces of a large diametercavity in a bore hole but may be raised from and lowered to the borehole cavity through a small diameter casing.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a well jetting toolcomprising an elongated rigid body member having tubular means extendingalong and mechanically coupled thereto. Jetting assemblies, adapted toswivel during use, are coupled to the tubular means at spaced apartintervals along the body member. The jetting assemblies include a swivelhead and elongated jet tubes having jet nozzles at their outerextremities. Means are provided for controlling the degree of swivelingof the jetting assemblies.

The invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof,will best be understood when the following detailed description is readin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, in section, of jetting apparatus inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken 90 degrees from the view of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a swivel element used in a jet assembly ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a jetting tool, indicatedgenerally by the numeral comprising an elongated body member 12 of solidbar stock having coupling elements 14, 16 at each end.

A fluid flow line, indicated generally by the numeral 18, extends fromnear the coupling element 14 towards the lower end coupling element 16of the body member 12. The flow line 18 is threaded back and forththrough the 3,348,616 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 bar-like body member in aplurality of loops. The flow line 18 is welded or otherwise mechanicallycoupled to the body member 12 each time it passes through the bodymember, as at 20', 22, 24, 26, for example.

A plurality of jet head assemblies, indicated generally by the numeral28, are coupled, by means of tubes 30, 32, 34, 36 to the flow line 18.Each of the tubes 30, 32, 34, 36 is fixedly secured, as by welds, forexample, to the body member 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, as well as to FIGS. 1 and 2, it may beseen that the swivel member 38 of the jet head assembly 28 includes abolt-like element 40' having a head 42, and a cylindrical part 44 havingthreads 46 at its end which has reduced diameter. A bore 48 extendslongitudinally from the end 50 of the element towards the head 42. Across-bore 52 extends through the cylindrical part 44 of the member 38.

A pair of grooves 54, 56 extend around the periphery of the cylindricalpart 44, one groove being on each side of the bore 52. An 0 ring seal58, 60 is disposed in each groove 54, 56, respectively.

A cylindrical element 62 whose thickness is less than its diameter andwhose diameter is substantially larger than the diameter of thecylindrical part 44, has an axially extending bore 64 completely throughit. A transverse bore 66, having threads 68 at its outer end, extendsfrom the periphery of the element 62 to the bore 64. The bore 66 is ofsmaller diameter than the distance between the grooves 54, 56.

When the element 62 is assembled over the cylindrical part 44 of theelement 38, the -O-ring seals 58, 60 bear against the wall of the bore64 and prevent leakage of fluid along the bore 64. Communication forfluid flow is provided through the bores 48, 52 and 66.

As may be seen more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, an elbow type flow element70 is coupled to the threaded end 68 of the bore 66, with another elbowtype coupling element 72 being coupled to the output of the element 70.A flexible hose 74 having a jetting nozzle 76 coupled to one end, hasits other end coupled to the output of the element 72.

The hose 74, nozzle 76, elements 70' and 72, and the element 62 are soaligned that flow through them tends to cause movement of the mentionedelements along a single plane.

Stop means, in the form of a protuberance 78 extending from the bodymember 12 in the path of movement of the element 70, is provided toprevent excessive rotation of the jetting assembly 38 as material isflowed therethrough.

In operation, the jetting tool 10 is cou led by means of coupling 14 toa string of tubing (not shown) and is lowered down a bore hole throughcasing until the tool 10 is beyond the casing and is adjacent to anenlarged part of the bore hole, such as where the bore hole hadpreviously been shot with nitro glycerin, for example. If desired,additional tubing (not shown) may be coupled, as at 16, below the tool10.

The string of tubing (not shown) which is attached to coupling 14communicates with flow line 18 by a passageway through coupling element19 which joins coupling 14 and flow line 18. A suitable pumping means(not shown) is attached at the upper end of the string of tubing forforcing fluids and/or fluids plus abrasive material down the flow line18 as'is well known in the art.

When the tool is in position, fluid is forced through the flow line 18and through the jetting assemblies 38, causing the assemblies to rotateuntil stopped by the pins or protuberances 78. The pins 78 stop theassemblies 38 when the nozzles 76 are directed horizontally or nearlyperpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body member12.

Actually, as illustrated, the pins 78 cause the nozzles 76 to bedirected at an angle about 30 degrees less than perpendicular withrespect to the body member 12.

Thus, as the jetting assemblies rotate, the nozzles are advanced towardsthe wall of the bore hole and the distance of the nozzles from the bodymember 12 may be greatly in excess of the radius of the casing.

When the jetting treatment is completed, the jetting assemblies are freeto return to their at rest position parallel to the body member 12, thuspermitting the jetting tool to be withdrawn from the bore hole throughthe casing.

The swiveled jetting assembly is threadedly coupled to the flow line 18through the tube 30, 32, 34, for example.

Flexible tubing 74 of different lengths may beused, the required lengthusually being determined after interpretation of a profile survey of thepart of the bore hole to be jetted.

In practice, jet nozzles 76 having a inch orifice are commonly used.Because such orifices are easily plugged, it is often wise to mount afilter screen just above the tool 10 to prevent plugging of the jetnozzles by scale from the tubing or similar particulated materials.

The swivel arrangement of the jetting assemblies causes the jettingassemblies to fold downwardly towards the body member 12 as the tool israised into the casing in event the weight of the jet assembly does notcause this movement of its own accord.

Thus, this invention provides a simple, convenient to use means for jetcleaning and perforating of the walls of well bores Where the wallsurface is beyond the effective distance of ordinary jetting tools.

What is claimed is:

1. A jetting tool assembly comprising an elongated body member havingcoupling means at least at one end thereof, a flow line extending alongsaid body member and mechanically coupled thereto at intervals along itslength, said flow line having a coupling element adjacent to an end ofsaid body member, a plurality of swiveled jetting assemblies, saidjetting assemblies being mechanically coupled to said body member andfluid flow coupled to said flow line at spaced apart intervals along thelength of said body member, said jetting assemblies each comprising aswivel head having an offset flow member coupled there to and a jettingnozzle coupled to said offset flow member by a conduit.

2. A jetting tool assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein stopmeans are provided for preventing excess movement of said swivel heads.

3. A jetting tool assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidjetting assemblies are coupled to more than one side of said bodymember.

4. A jetting tool assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flowline passes through said body member at spaced apart intervals alongsaid body member.

5. A jetting tool assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidconduit and nozzle are detachably coupled to said offset flow member.

6. A jetting tool assembly comprising an elongated body member havingcoupling means at least at one end thereof, a flow line extending alongsaid body member and mechanically coupled thereto at intervals along itslength, said flow line having a coupling element adjacent to an end ofsaid body member, at least one swiveled jetting assembly, said jettingassembly being mechanically coupled to said body member and fluid flowcoupled to said flow line, said jetting assembly comprising a swivelhead having an offset flow member coupled there to and a jetting nozzlecoupled to said offset flow member by a conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,690 1/ 1915 Con-rade-r166-223 1,524,592 l/'1925 Stephens 166-223 2,228,640 1/1941 ONeill166-223 2,533,563 12/ 1950 Dobbs 166-223 3,224,506 12/ 1965 Huitt et al166-223 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

JAMES A. LEPPINK, Examiner.

6. A JETTING TOOL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY MEMBER HAVINGCOUPLING MEANS AT LEAST AT ONE END THEREOF, A FLOW LINE EXTENDING ALONGSAID BODY MEMBER AND MECHANICALLY COUPLED THERETO AT INTERVALS ALONG ITSLENGTH, SAID FLOW LINE HAVING A COUPLING ELEMENT ADJACENT TO AN END OFSAID BODY MEMBER, AT LEAST ONE SWIVELED JETTING ASSEMBLY, SAID JETTINGASSEMBLY BEING MECHANICALLY COUPLED TO SAID BODY MEMBER AND FLUID FLOWCOUPLED TO SAID FLOW LINE, SAID JETTING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SWIVELHEAD HAVING AN OFFSET FLOW MEMBER COUPLED THERE TO AND A JETTING NOZZLECOUPLED TO SAID OFFSET FLOW MEMBER BY A CONDUIT.